On The Garden Wall

 

On The Garden Wall    oil 9x12 inches

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This is more of my work from April.  It was a very warm day, but the roses and lavender were in full bloom.  I had this beautiful little pot of white mums.  Compelled to do some plein air painting in spite of Covid lockdown and the heat, I positioned myself in shade under both an avocado tree and a beach umbrella.  I had a great time and was happy with the result.  The next day was cooler, so I was able to paint this lovely subject again from a closer vantage point.  That one is coming up next.  

Spring Music -sold

oil 16x12 inches sold I had some challenges with this one, mainly because I completed it in several sessions and it dried in between. Ugh! I prefer working alla prima so I can manipulate edges. At the start the daffodils were mostly closed and the tulips perky. Second session they were all open and the tulips looked like they'd had a party during the night. Only the violin cooperated.

Tulips

watercolor 13x9 inches
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One evening a week I get to meet with artsy friends and make art, talk art, laugh and eat dessert. I usually want to play around with watercolors in a "not very serious" way. This is what developed on one of those nights.

Spring Clippings -sold

oil 8x8 inches
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First Freesias -sold

oil 6x6 inches
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Freesias are the flowers for me. I don't do anything, and they come up every year and bloom their hearts out. While I'm painting they give off a light lemony fragrance.

Freesia Bottleneck-SOLD

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
sold
As you may have guessed by now, my backyard is full of freesias. The reds are just glorious...put them with green and...POW! Yummy color.
I have great news! I was recently juried into Daily Painter Originals, another group of top notch painters. Be sure to check it out by clicking on the icon on the right side of the page.

Pink Daisy, Little Bottle

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
Spring is here in Southern California. In spite of the recent colder temps some of my bulbs are blooming and the calla lilies too. Must...paint...flower!

Magnolia Blossoms III -sold

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
SOLD
Well this is the last and my favorite of the magnolia blossom paintings. The mauve surface gave it the look I was after. For the most part I was able to put down a stroke and leave it. For that reason alone it really pays off to paint the same object over and over...especially for us "noodlers". I have to admit, I was relieved when they started shriveling up...I was ready to move on to something else!

Magnolia Blossom II -sold

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
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Though it takes me a while to paint these blossoms, I've arrived at a process that works. I start from the center and work outward painting each petal one at a time. This allows me to overlap my strokes where I need soft transitions. Then painting the next petal behind, I can cut into and shape the edge of the previous petal. With mostly alizarin and some cad red light I've been able to approximate the pinks, but at the end I added some quinacrodone magenta, which I don't normally use.

Magnolia Blossom

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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The Chinese Magnolia trees are in full bloom and they are spectacular! For a long time I've wanted to paint some of these blossoms. A friend with a tree gave me permission to snip some branches. Thanks, Otha! Sorry for the glare in the photo, but this shot has the closest color match. Painting the large blossom felt similar to doing roses. I wiped it out and my second try worked out better. I'm going to keep practicing as long as my subject holds up!